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Here in Florida we have three main species of turtles,
The Hawksbill-
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle typically avoids deep waters preferring inter-coastal cruising where corals and sponges are abundant making them a regular site to see for the regular diver here in Florida. Hawksbills are carnivorous and enjoy the delicacies in life such as spiny lobsters, oysters, clams as well as other crustaceans. Wouldn't it be nice to be a hawksbill in your next life? Hawksbills grow up to 150 pounds, making them the smaller of the turtle species here in Florida and can live up to an estimated 50 years. The name Hawksbill comes from their snouts which round to a point much like that of a bird.
The Green Sea Turtle-
Unlike The Hawksbill, The Green Sea Turtle is a Herbivore feeding mostly on algae and grasses of the sea. Maybe that's why they're so green? However, juveniles are known to feed on smaller crustaceans and jellyfish. The Green Turtle can grow up to 700 pounds (the largest of sea turtles) and have a lifespan of over 80 years. The name comes from the color of the turtles skin as opposed to the pigment of the shell. A fun fact about this species is that they actually have been found sun bathing ashore making them one of the few turtles known to leave the ocean for reasons other than laying eggs.
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle-
Loggerheads tend to travel on a regular basis, from inter-coastal cruising to riding currents miles offshore these turtles get around the world and typically return to their home beaches for mating, sometimes thousands of miles from their current home. Loggerheads are omnivores but primarily carnivores, and average 250 pounds. However, the record Loggerhead turtle weighed a whopping 1000 pounds. Like the Hawksbill, the Loggerhead Turtles live up to an estimated 50 years. The Loggerheads earned their name due to the enormous head they possess, it's hard to not know it's a loggerhead.
We are very fortunate to have an abundance of Sea Turtles on our local dive sites here in Southeast Florida. Barnacle Bill is one of our resident juvenile Green Sea Turtles (pictured above) who calls the wreck of the Belzona Barge home. Want to visit Barnacle Bill or any of his gnarly friends? Click here to check out our dive schedule and book your next trip.
Sources: National Geographic
